Workers’ Compensation Lawyers in Trevose, PA

Getting injured on the job can sideline a worker for weeks, months, or longer. Fortunately, workers’ compensation exists to help employees pay for their medical bills, replace lost wages, and provide other benefits. Despite these protections, however, not all workers fully understand their rights or know what to do after being hurt – and some employers take advantage of this and deny their employees the benefits to which they are entitled under the law.

The workers’ compensation attorneys at Pond Lehocky are here to help you. If you have suffered a workplace injury and are not sure which steps you should take, or if you are having trouble receiving workers’ compensation, let us show you how we can win the payments you deserve.

How the Workers’ Compensation Process Works in Trevose, PA

Workers’ compensation (often called workers’ comp) is intended to cover a job-related injury or illness by providing for medical expenses and lost income. Death benefits are also available to eligible survivors of fatal workplace injuries and illnesses. Third-party insurers typically pay workers’ comp benefits, although some employers are self-insured.

Unlike personal injury cases, workers’ comp does not require proof of fault; covered employees are entitled to receive benefits if they are hurt or become sick due to their employment. Nearly all workers, including seasonal and part-time employees, are protected by workers’ comp insurance in PA. Nonprofits, unincorporated businesses, and businesses with only one employee must purchase insurance.

Certain employees such as railroad workers and federal civilian workers are protected under other compensation laws, while some categories of employees such as agricultural workers may not be covered. Available benefits include:

• Medical care: Workers are entitled to payment for reasonable surgical and medical services to treat their work-related injury or illness. This includes hospitalization, medicine, supplies, and prostheses.
• Lost wages: These are available if the worker is either totally disabled and cannot work or is partially disabled and cannot work at the same productivity level as before.
• Specific loss benefits: This category includes compensation if the worker has lost permanent use of all or part of certain limbs, their eyesight, or their hearing. It also covers serious and permanent disfigurement of the head, face, or neck.
• Death benefits: Surviving dependents can claim death benefits resulting from a work-related injury or illness. Our firm can assist with this process.

Why It Is Better to Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer to Help with Your Case

Although you are free to pursue your own workers’ comp claim, retaining skilled legal counsel will improve your chances of winning the full coverage you deserve. When you hire Pond Lehocky, we:

• File on time: Deadlines are everything when it comes to receiving workers’ compensation payments. Our firm can make sure your notice is timely filed so you can start receiving benefits.
• Document your injury: Not only can we handle filing your claim, but we can also document important records related to your injury or illness, including accident reports, wage statements, and medical bills. We collect everything necessary to substantiate and process your claim and support an appeal if necessary.
• Appeal a claim denial: Our representation does not end with the filing of your workers’ comp claim. If the insurer or employer refuses to pay or does not pay enough, we can appeal the denial or underpayment and seek the full coverage you need.

How to File a Workers’ Compensation Case in Trevose, PA

If you have been injured or gotten sick due to your employment, take the following steps:

Report the Injury or Illness within 21 Days

Coverage will be retroactive to the date of your injury. If you report outside the 21 days but within 120 days, coverage is only retroactive to the date you reported, not the date of injury. Notice should be given in writing per the internal policies of your employer, and to the correct individual (e.g. the human resources department).

Get Medical Attention

See a doctor immediately both for your health and to preserve your legal rights by documenting your illness or injury. If your employer has provided a list of preferred doctors, you must select from that list for non-emergency treatments within the first 90 days. After 90 days you can see your preferred healthcare provider.

Your Employer Will File a Claim

Next, your employer should report the injury to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (Bureau) by filing a First Report of Injury. Either your employer or its workers’ comp insurer will likely file additional forms.

The insurer has 21 days from the date it was notified of your injury to take action. This means approving, denying, or temporarily approving your claim pending an additional 90-day investigation period.

Appeal if Necessary

If your claim is denied or the insurer or employer disputes it and refuses to pay full benefits, you have up to three years to file an appeal with the Bureau. A judge will be assigned and will conduct a hearing, allowing both sides to present their evidence and arguments. The case may be resolved in mediation or a settlement conference before the hearing date.

The judge’s decision can be further appealed, first to the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board and then to the courts.

Which Conditions Are Covered Under Workers’ Comp Insurance in Trevose, PA?

If you are performing work duties and you get injured or sick, you may be entitled to workers’ comp. Commonly covered workplace conditions include slips and falls, burns, broken bones, machine accidents, repetitive motion injuries, and occupational diseases. However, workers’ compensation is not available if the injury was intentionally self-inflicted or resulted from intoxication or a violation of the law (e.g. illegal use of drugs).

How Much Is Workers’ Comp Insurance in PA?

Workers’ compensation is required by law, and fortunately for employers, it is not very expensive to purchase a policy. The average cost is $58 per month, though the actual premium will vary from one employer to the next and will be based on such factors as:

• Claims history
• Payroll
• Location
• The number of workers
• Industry-specific risk factors
• Coverage limits

There are also options for reducing premiums, like basing policies on an actual payroll rather than on an estimated one.

How Much Is a Trevose, PA Workers’ Compensation Case Worth?

Every workers’ compensation case is different, which means the amount of benefits to which you are entitled will vary. Some factors that affect the value of your claim include the seriousness of the injury, how much time you miss from work, and whether you have suffered an amputation or lost the function of a body part.

In general, employees who hire workers’ comp lawyers receive more benefits than those who do not. An attorney will understand the laws, be familiar with the nature of your injuries and their medical and financial consequences, and will know the appeals process. Employers and insurers often take advantage of employees who do not know the law and thereby cheat them out of fair compensation. Having a lawyer helps avoid this problem.

FAQ About Workers’ Compensation in Trevose, PA

Here are some of the questions we are asked most often by our clients with respect to how workers’ compensation works in Trevose, PA.

How Do I File an Appeal if My Claim Was Denied in PA?

Approximately 90 workers’ comp judges hear cases throughout the state of Pennsylvania. The Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board hears and decides appeals of these judges’ orders. Any worker who disagrees with a judge’s decision has 20 days to appeal it, and arguments are heard both electronically and in person.

Appeals can be filed electronically or by mail. The Board will review the decision and determine whether it is supported by evidence and was made following the law. A majority of all Commissioners on the Board must agree to its decision.

An experienced lawyer will facilitate your appeal by timely and correctly filing it, ensuring a hearing is scheduled, and conducting the hearing on your behalf by presenting evidence and arguments. We can also help you appeal to the courts if necessary. We are familiar with the common reasons that claims are denied or not fully paid, and we know what it takes to refute these reasons.

How Do I Know if I Have a Valid Workers’ Comp Case?

If you are unsure whether you have a valid claim, you must speak with a lawyer right away. You only have a short window in which to request workers’ compensation benefits, and the earlier you do so, the faster you can start receiving them. Our firm can review the circumstances surrounding your workplace accident or illness and help you determine if you have a case.

How Do I Find a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Near Me?

You can find a workers’ compensation attorney near you by starting with a Google search. You should vet the attorney by reading client reviews and testimonials.

Pond Lehocky represents clients in all 50 states. We would be proud to represent you in your workers’ compensation claim or appeal.

Connect with a Trevose, PA Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

Our firm handles all manner of workers’ compensation claims and appeals, covering employees in all industries, from small companies to large corporations. Find out how we can serve your best interests by contacting Pond Lehocky today.